The Playbook 2 - STH Q&A with Ballmer, West, Frank & Beverley

[mkwest]

A fired-up Steve Ballmer is preaching a message of better days ahead — and Clippers fans are believing

The event Wednesday night at Novo at L.A. Live was billed as “The Playbook,” a conversation with Lawrence Frank — the Clippers’ president of basketball operations — and icon Jerry West, a team consultant. Ballmer made it feel more like a pep rally crossed with a tent revival, complete with devout responses from the Clippers faithful. “We know we’ve got to earn everything in life,” he said at one point, and someone in the crowd yelled, “Yes!” When he said, “Nothing comes to us for free,” an emotional voice cried, “Right!”

He held an audience of about 2,500 in the palm of his never-still hands. He promised no miracles, more hot dogs and a tough-minded team backed by a front office that finally has salary-cap flexibility and is eager to dive into the anticipated 2019 free-agent bonanza. “You’ve got to take the payroll down to take it up. We’re going to recruit our asses off, whatever it takes to give you the best team that we can give you year in and year out,” he said.

“We’re moving to Inglewood come hell or high water,” he said of a proposed arena near the site of the stadium being constructed for the Rams and Chargers. “We gotta have a house. So we’re working on a plan to get our own house. We want to get our own house. It turns out the way this works in L.A., which is much beloved to me, that if you start now you might be done in six years.” He then urged fans to contact their Assembly representative and state senator to urge approval of legislation that would accelerate the process. He probably inspired more than a few emails and phone calls.

Helene Elliott, LA Times

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[esqtvd]

I guess it doesn't mean much after they made Blake Griffin a "Clipper for Life," but trotting Pat Bev out there as the face of the franchise--with his contract expiring--is...interesting.

I don't know where Pat fits in long term basketball-wise, but he has more charisma, charm, and leadership than anybody in the CP-BG-DJ Golden Age. He IS the type of guy a major FA would want to have getting his back.

[TheNewEra]

Not a bad backup to have

[Quake Griffin]

They need to quit with these Pep Rallies (at least eliminate that element from their event) when their honesty isn't gonna come in pep rally form.


It's gonna come via a move and Lawrence Frank being quoted by some twitter head.

Who are they fooling? Anybody on this forum?
Clipper fans aren't dumb.

[MartinToVaught]

I don't mind the pep rallies, but I do mind trashing the Sixers for executing a plan that has generated better results than anything we've ever done. Especially when Ballmer's not even being honest about how long it took the Sixers to rebuild. It's just not a good look to be talking trash about other franchises that have accomplished more while we've never been past the second round of the playoffs. It reeks of insecurity.

[Akklaim1]

I don't mind the pep rallies, but I do mind trashing the Sixers for executing a plan that has generated better results than anything we've ever done. Especially when Ballmer's not even being honest about how long it took the Sixers to rebuild. It's just not a good look to be talking trash about other franchises that have accomplished more while we've never been past the second round of the playoffs. It reeks of insecurity.

How exactly have the Sixers accomplished more with their 5 years of tanking? Because in their first year of success, it's pretty much the same as the Clippers. Win 50 games and bounce in the 2nd round. How is that "more" than the Clippers?

[esqtvd]

I don't mind the pep rallies, but I do mind trashing the Sixers for executing a plan that has generated better results than anything we've ever done. Especially when Ballmer's not even being honest about how long it took the Sixers to rebuild. It's just not a good look to be talking trash about other franchises that have accomplished more while we've never been past the second round of the playoffs. It reeks of insecurity.

How exactly have the Sixers accomplished more with their 5 years of tanking? Because in their first year of success, it's pretty much the same as the Clippers. Win 50 games and bounce in the 2nd round. How is that "more" than the Clippers?

Exactly. And the Sixers' whole future is teetering on the health of a guy who hasn't played a full season since high school. As my hometown team, the Sixers are still my #2 team. What they put their fans through [and the league] was a disgrace.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2759830-there-will-never-be-another-process-or-a-gm-job-for-sam-hinkie

[Dynamix]

I appreciate and agree with Ballmer's message, but there was no need to name names. Just say that tanking won't be part of our culture and be done with it. It serves no purpose to take a random shot at the Sixers.

Also, I doubt our FO would be completely fine with giving away our pick to Boston. I'm guessing they hope we can repeat last season's storyline. Play hard, keep the fans engaged, stay in the playoff race until the very end, come a few wins short, and maybe show off some of our older moveable assets along the way.

[Quake Griffin]

I don't mind the pep rallies, but I do mind trashing the Sixers for executing a plan that has generated better results than anything we've ever done. Especially when Ballmer's not even being honest about how long it took the Sixers to rebuild. It's just not a good look to be talking trash about other franchises that have accomplished more while we've never been past the second round of the playoffs. It reeks of insecurity.

He shouldn't have said that. Wack AF.

We're the Clippers. Over the course of our lifetime, we have been the punching bag for all fans. Although it is very possible for them to do, I expect the owners and NBA players to at least fake it, be professional and not **** on us for how awful we have been when a mic is in their face. I expect us to do the same when another team behaves in a way we don't like.

They're on their 2nd GM since Hinkie with Colangelo actually behaving in a matter that is undeniably reprehensible and not this pretend "Tanking-Is-Evil" Reprehensibility Soap Box that has been made up by people on Real GM. After another summer cleaning house, not sure why anybody in Philly would appreciate hearing about how their organization tanked 2 GMs ago....particularly when it seems aimed directly at them and not the previous regimes.

A simple...we aren't tanking would have sufficed.
But hey....when you know you're not good and you and your FO prepped to tell people you are and keep a straight face....
anything is possible.

[esqtvd]

I appreciate and agree with Ballmer's message, but there was no need to name names. Just say that tanking won't be part of our culture and be done with it. It serves no purpose to take a random shot at the Sixers.

Not random. As you see, there are putative Clipper fans out there who think we should emulate Hinkie's Process. Ballmer nipped that $%^& in the bud.

Ballmer also vowed that the Clippers won’t tank to get a better draft pick. “That ain’t us. Nuh-uh, no way,” he said. “People can do it their way. We’re going to be good our way. We’re not going to show up and suck for a year, two years. I think we got higher expectations on us than the long, hard five, six years of absolute crap like the 76ers put in. How could we look you guys in the eye if we did that to you?”

http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-fan-reception-elliott-20180816-story.html


Makes me proud to be on Ballmer's team. The org has put character at the top of their team-building criteria, and I'm all for it. The CP-BG-DJ Era lacked it.

[og15]

Sounds like Beverley is a guy the team wants to keep and kind of use as the face of the new tough Clippers. That's good for him.

[Quake Griffin]

Sounds like Beverley is a guy the team wants to keep and kind of use as the face of the new tough Clippers. That's good for him.

lol at "for him"

#SignsYouDontHaveAGoodTeam:
1) You're discussing whether or not you are going to tank in the media.
2) Patrick Beverly with a surgically repaired knee is the face of your new rebuild....err....35-40 win retool.****

The more you think about it, the more you see why he held a little pep rally and promised the world...

[Ranma]

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[esqtvd]

Sounds like Beverley is a guy the team wants to keep and kind of use as the face of the new tough Clippers. That's good for him.

lol at "for him"

#SignsYouDontHaveAGoodTeam:
1) You're discussing whether or not you are going to tank in the media.
2) Patrick Beverly with a surgically repaired knee is the face of your new rebuild....err....35-40 win retool.****

The more you think about it, the more you see why he held a little pep rally and promised the world...

It's called good business. Fans appreciate an org that's trying and can forgive a lot.

The Clippers really have no residual good will like the Lakers, whose attendance stayed up during their lean years [and Buss/Kupchak's incompetence]. Indeed, during the Hinkie tank, the Sixers' attendance plummeted to 29th as all but a small fragment of the fans got disgusted with the whole thing.

And yes, we're a Tobias injury from being really really bad. You still might get your wish.

[Quake Griffin]

Sounds like Beverley is a guy the team wants to keep and kind of use as the face of the new tough Clippers. That's good for him.

lol at "for him"

#SignsYouDontHaveAGoodTeam:
1) You're discussing whether or not you are going to tank in the media.
2) Patrick Beverly with a surgically repaired knee is the face of your new rebuild....err....35-40 win retool.****

The more you think about it, the more you see why he held a little pep rally and promised the world...

It's called good business. Fans appreciate an org that's trying and can forgive a lot.

The Clippers really have no residual good will like the Lakers, whose attendance stayed up during their lean years [and Buss/Kupchak's incompetence]. Indeed, during the Hinkie tank, the Sixers' attendance plummeted to 29th as all but a small fragment of the fans got disgusted with the whole thing.

And yes, we're a Tobias injury from being really really bad. You still might get your wish.

Meanwhile, the Clippers fell from 10th to 22nd (while not tanking) and the Sixers finished 3rd in attendance, broke records for season ticket sales, and sold out every game last year.

#AppreciationAndForgiveness

Care to point out any Clipper fan that has asked for a 5 year sustained tank like Hinkie did? Care to produce a quote from them suggesting that we do what Hinkie did?

[esqtvd]

what's your position

this is thumbwrestling in jello

if you have a point, just make it and kindly get out of my face

my position is clear
it's the same as Ballmer's

this makes me proud to be a Clipper fan

end

[Quake Griffin]

1) Lying (blowing smoke, embellishing, etc. etc.) to a small but smart fanbase isn't that great of an idea. We may be optimistic but we aren't stupid.

2) You can't produce a single quote from a Clipper fan suggesting to go the Hinkie route.

If you have the quote, produce it and kindly get out of my face.

[Quake Griffin]

Philly writer not taking that.

#getthestrap
https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/la-clippers-owner-steve-ballmer-takes-tanking-jab-sixers

[esqtvd]

I don't know what your point is
I don't know what your disagreement with Ballmer is, if any
or how much tanking you think is permissible

I've had my say
I'm with Ballmer

floor's yours


peace

[MartinToVaught]

After Cuban got fined last season for publicly admitting to tanking, no owner is ever going to say they're tanking again, regardless of what their team's actual plan is. So the "but Ballmer agrees with me!" argument doesn't hold up to scrutiny.